Norovirus: Karnataka govt puts Dakshina Kannada & Kodagu on high alert

Bengaluru: Karnataka government has directed the districts bordering Kerala to be on high alert in the wake of Norovirus cases being reported in 13 students of a veterinary college in Wayanad district.

A circular was issued on Tuesday by the State Joint Joint Director (Communicable Diseases) has directed health officials in the border Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts to be vigilant about the cases of highly contagious viral disease.

Health officials in the border districts have also been directed to appoint a nodal officer for each district to monitor the situation. “Apart from door-to-door monitoring, ASHAs, anganawadi workers and gram panchayat members should be roped in to ensure strict vigilance,” the circular added.

The circular also directed the health authorities to intensify preventive measures in these districts which include super chlorination of drinking water and spreading awareness about the disease and its propagation.

People infected by Noroviruses develop gastrointestinal illnesses as the virus attacks the lining of the stomach and intestines causing inflammation. Severe vomiting, diarrhoea similar to cholera, body ache are some of the common symptoms of the disease. As treatment for this infection is non-specific, doctors should treat anyone who reports with symptoms symptomatically, the circular said.